International Migration and Ethnic Relations, Master's Programme (Two-Year)

“Whatever I do in the future I will be well prepared for it”

Juliet Williams is from Kingston, Jamaica. She is studying International Migration and Ethnic Relations, a master’s degree.

Before Juliet came to Sweden she studied counselling and psychology. She also worked for many years in the administrative field in Kingston. After talking to a friend who recommended studies in Sweden, Juliet applied for a European scholarship.

“I always knew that I wanted to come to Sweden.  Swedish politics appealed to me very much.  I believe that Sweden is very good at taking care of its citizens.”

The programme gave her an insight into a new reality.

“It showed me how much I didn´t know before.  The programme is applicable in many areas and I really recommend it, and hope many more people study at Malmö University. I learned how to think academically, it sharpened my analytical skills. The teachers set the foundation and made us good at what we do. Whatever I do in the future I will be well prepared for it.”

It also appealed to Juliet that the courses are taught in English.

“I didn´t have the time to learn Swedish and so I was happy the lectures were in English.  I enjoy my studies immensely; we have fabulous teachers with a lot of knowledge. They really respect the students and treat us equally. That gives us a lot of confidence.”

Juliet also wants to recommend everyone to study in Malmö. Back in Jamaica she did not have the opportunity to learn how to ride a bike, but having lived in Malmö since 2012 she had her chance.

“Malmö is a wonderful city, it respects bikers. I didn´t know how to ride a bike, but Malmö allowed me to take this opportunity!”

Malmö Graduate Working for the UN

Carolina Hamma has studied international migration and ethnic relations at Malmö University. Now she is an Electoral Adviser for UNMIT (United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste). She is part of a team ensuring that international principles on elections are fulfilled, in cooperation with local agencies.

How did you end up working in Timor-Leste?

“I uploaded my CV to the UN-Volunteers website and they contacted me a few months later about this opportunity. It sounded really interesting. Then I had a phone interview, where I among other things had to prove that I speak Portuguese.”

What else have you worked with since graduating from Malmö University?

“I’ve had many different jobs; I’ve worked as a project assistant on a research project about young people in Malmö, and as a social worker at a home for refugee minors. I have also interned at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs and worked for RedR UK, a non-profit in London that trains humanitarian NGO workers. I have always done what I’ve felt has been really meaningful, and it hasn’t always been easy achieving my goals. Language skills have been crucial; I speak several languages, including Spanish and Portuguese which I’ve learned while travelling and taking classes.”

What’s a typical day at work like for you in Timor-Leste?

– Each day is different from the last. But I’ll give an example from the other day: I woke up at 6am and heard what I thought was a very loud, broken motorbike emitting a strong smell of burnt rubber. It turned out it was the Health Ministry that had decided to gas the area for dengue mosquitos. Dengue fever is a big problem here. The gas lay thick and foul-smelling around the whole block. After an ice-cold shower, I took the jeep to work. We were going to Iraler, a mountain village in the district where I work. Six of us fit into the four-wheel drive: three international UNVs and three staff from CNE (National Commission for Elections). Iraler was some 75 km away, but it took us a few hours to get there as the roads are mainly eroded sand, dirt and mud. When we arrived we met up with some colleagues from the Secretariat for Election Administration who were conducting Voters Education in the village. We were going to monitor the event.

– We also interviewed first-time and young voters about the knowledge about and access to information on the presidential election of March 17. We also delivered election material   to the democratically elected village chief and recorded the GPS coordinates of the village. This is needed because the village is so isolated that the votes have to be collected by helicopter on election day. When we were done the village hosted us for lunch, as we had travelled so far to visit them.

After that we went to a different village to check on a campaign for one of the presidential candidates and leave some information material about the election. Then it was time to go home. The roads were lined with children waving and shouting ‘malaj malaj!’ (which means foreigner). There are a lot of young people in Timor-Leste, 69 per cent of the population are younger than 25.  Many of the older people died during the Indonesian occupation 1975-2000. A third of the total population is thought to have lost their lives during those years.

Do you have any advice for current students?

– Be realistic when you follow your dreams and find out as much as possible about what they entail. Become an information junkie. And it’s alright to give up and try something new. I know that everyone says the opposite, but there’s nothing wrong with choosing a new path.